Saturday, February 11, 2012

Remembering my 1st cousin, 2x removed, she died on this day, the 11th of February, in 1976, in Hardin Co., Kentucky.

Little did I know in April of 2008, when I took this photo, that Laura was one of my cousins. I had just started doing my family history in 2008. When I visited Saint Mary of the Woods cemetery, there were several Tabeling grave sites and I was making sure I snapped photos of all of their graves, not really knowing of our kinship. These photos have been tucked away on my computer since then.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

I was only three years old when we left Germany and I remember very little about my Opa, Adalbert Haf, born, 27 Feb. 1907 and passed away on 09 Feb. 1968.

I do remember where I was and what I was doing, the day mom received the white envelope with the black border around it from Germany, announcing his death. I felt that closeness we shared in my heart, that my brain could not remember. I am the keeper of that announcement, and of all his photos now.

Mom had shared many stories with me about how very close Opa and I were up until mom and I left Germany, when I was three. He didn't want us to leave. I was stuck to him like glue, as he was with me, and would hang out with him in his workshop. I had my own set of tools that matched his, and if he hit his thumb with the hammer...so did I! And when he hit his thumb and cursed in German...so did I! Mom had said that no one would ever forget that one.

Opa was a German Mountain Trooper in Russia, during WWII. His military career ended when he was shot in the shoulder. When I was at the age of 13, Mom and I traveled back to Augsburg, Germany, our home town, for a four week visit...I do remember the wonderful times Opa and I had together...that was the last time I saw him before he passed.